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Post by JDK on Feb 20, 2011 12:25:44 GMT 12
G'Day all, I'm sure everyone's well aware of the great Kiwi aviator Air Commodore Arthur E Clouston, but when researching him recently, I came across another Clouston I wasn't aware of, AE's brother, Falcon Nelson: muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/22235.detail?keywords=Clouston%20Falcon%20Nelson%20World%20War%20II,%201939-1945 His unit seems to have been 229 Squadron; "On 6 October 1939, No 229 reformed at Digby as a Fighter squadron. Equipped initially with Blenheims for shipping protection duties, it began convoy patrols on 21 December but also carried out night training and radar trials. In March 1940, the squadron was re-equipped with Hurricanes and soon after the German invasion of France in May 1940, sent one flight to reinforce the French-based fighter squadrons for eight days." www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/h229.htmlDoes anyone have more info on him and his (sadly) brief career? Thanks! |
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 20, 2011 15:33:39 GMT 12
From my trilogy 'For Your Tomorrow - A record of New Zealanders who have died while serving with the RNZAF and Allied Air Services since 1915 (Volume Three: Biographies & Appendices)':
CLOUSTON, Flight Lieutenant Falcon Nelson.
40990; b Motueka 27 Jan 13; Nelson Coll; motor salesman - Anderson & Hansen Ltd, Napier. Hawkes Bay & East Coast Aero Club, 1st solo Jan 37, 'A' Licence 22 Feb 37, Emb for UK e.38, selected for RAF SSComm; RAF & to White Waltham/13E&RFTS 27 Jun 38, SSComm [wef 27.6.38] & 1 Depôt 20 Aug 38, 11FTS 3 Sep 38, Pilots Badge 31 Mar 39, 23 Sqn (Blenheim - ? ops) 1 Apr 39, 229 Sqn (Blenheim - 25 ops, Hurricane - 13 ops) 8 Nov 39, kao 29 May 40. Sage War Cemetery - 5.F.14, Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Son of Robert Edmund & Ruby Alexandra Clouston (née Scott), Upper Moutere. Note: Credited with 1 e/a dest. Clouston's older brother, Arthur, was the well known pre-war record-breaking airman. [OHT1 & phot. TWN 12.6.40].
Errol
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2011 18:51:36 GMT 12
Interesting stuff. Were Arthur and Falcon Clouston related in any way (cousins perhaps) to Wilf Clouston of No. 488 Squadron, or Warwick Clouston who was a young pilot who was also killed?
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Post by JDK on Feb 20, 2011 20:04:39 GMT 12
Thanks chaps! Dave, any more about these other-other Cloustons you mention?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2011 20:29:58 GMT 12
Warwick Clouston was interesting in that when he completed his pilots training in NZ he somehow managed to miss the boat to Britain and was thus posted to the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron at Whenuapai in a bit of a holding pattern. He was not flying for the squadron as he'd done no OTU course or anything advanced, so was sort of in a holding pattern there till the RNZAF could sort him out, and at that stage he was very young, just turned 19 from memory, so the boys of the squadron - both aircrew and groundcrew, took him under their wings and he became very popular for the while he was there. His parents lived at Milford north of Auckland and he used to take the boys home on weekends, etc. When he was finally posted they were very sorry, even though he'd done little for the Squadron operationally he'd been a popular chap even with the erks. When he was killed they were very sad about it as he'd kept in touch with the sqn, and the sqn boys had also kept in touch with his parents. muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/22237.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=clouston&c_firstname_search=warwick&c_warconflict_search=world+war+ii,+1939-1945 Wilf Clouston was another pre-war RAF man who'd fought in the Battle of Britain, before becoming the CO of NZ's first fighter squadron, No. 488 (NZ) Squadron at Singapore. He was said to be a very good leader who was very much responsible for ensuring all his men that he could got out of Singapore after the invasion, to the point where he himself was captured trying to arrange passage for his boys. There's a good account of this in Graham Clayton's book on No. 488 (NZ) Squadron. "Last Stand in Singapore". See here muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/277.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=clouston&c_firstname_search=wilfAnd www.nzfpm.co.nz/article.asp?id=clouston |
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 20, 2011 23:29:51 GMT 12
Warwick Clouston was interesting in that when he completed his pilots training in NZ he somehow managed to miss the boat to Britain and was thus posted to the New Zealand General Reconnaissance Squadron at Whenuapai in a bit of a holding pattern. He was not flying for the squadron as he'd done no OTU course or anything advanced, so was sort of in a holding pattern there till the RNZAF could sort him out, and at that stage he was very young, just turned 19 from memory, so the boys of the squadron - both aircrew and groundcrew, took him under their wings and he became very popular for the while he was there. His parents lived at Milford north of Auckland and he used to take the boys home on weekends, etc. When he was finally posted they were very sorry, even though he'd done little for the Squadron operationally he'd been a popular chap even with the erks. When he was killed they were very sad about it as he'd kept in touch with the sqn, and the sqn boys had also kept in touch with his parents. Don't know where you got this account from Dave but flying-wise it bears very little relation to his actual career. CLOUSTON, Sergeant Warwick Ashling. NZ402452 (prev A402452); b Auckland 5 Jun 21; Takapuna Grammar; clerk - Tasti Products Ltd, Auckland. NZ Army/TF (4th Fd Bty NZA) 1937 for 1yr; RNZAF NZGR Sqn (Vincent/Vildebeest) as Aircrafthand (AMD) 9 Jul 40, remust as Airman Pilot u/t 21 Dec 40, ITW 22 Dec 40, 4EFTS 9 Feb 41, inj in Tiger Moth acc 4 Mar 41, emb for Canada 22 Jul 41, att RCAF 16 Aug 41, 6SFTS 18 Aug 41, Pilots Badge & Sgt 5 Dec 41, 1 Y Depôt 11 Dec 41, att RAF & emb for UK 13 Dec 41, 3PRC 26 Dec 41, 17(P)AFU 2 Feb 42, 56OTU (Hurricane) 17 Mar 42, 616 Sqn (Spitfire - nil ops) 19 May 42, kaa 20 Jun 42. Scottow Cemetery - grave 269, Norf., England. Son of Douglas Clark & Kathleen Amelia Clouston (née Warwick), Milford, Auckland. [phot. TWN 8.7.42]. Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 21, 2011 0:54:16 GMT 12
My version came from a personal memoir of one of his mates on the squadron, but I'll admit it was a while since I read it so I may have twisted it, or it may be the memoir that has the order round the wrong way. I'll look it out and have a re-read when I get a chance.
There was also a Dave Clouston on No. 485 (NZ) Squadron I think, wasn't there?
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Post by errolmartyn on Feb 21, 2011 10:58:28 GMT 12
Herewith a summary of all Cloustons known to have served in RAF or RNZAF up to 1948:
Arthur Edmund Clouston (29162, RAF) #
David Thomas Clouston (NZ404337) #
Falcon Nelson Clouston (40990, RAF) +
James Alexander Clouston (NZ401967)
John Greville Clouston (NZ40218) +
Marion Stewart Clouston (W1641, WAAF)
Vernon Alfred Clouston (NZ428285)
Warwick Ashling Clouston (NZ402452) +
Wilfred Greville Clouston (39223, RAF)
# Appears in Colin Hanson's 'By Such Deeds'
+ Appears in my 'For Your Tomorrow' volumes
Errol
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Post by petercl on Mar 24, 2011 7:52:13 GMT 12
Hi Guys, I'm an interloper but I can answer one or two of the questions raised and possibly point you to another source.
Arthur, Falcon and Vernon were brothers. I also believe the Marion Clouston nee Stewart (Marion Stewart Clouston) married into this branch of the family (a cousin of A, F and V). I have a newspaper article from the Johannesburg Star Sept 7 1962 showing Susan Clouston, a WRAF Officer and daughter of Arthur alighting from the rear seat of the lead Hunter from 92 Sqn RAF's 'Blue Diamonds' display team when she became the first woman .
Wilfred and John (KIA Northern France 1945) are also brothers and if my calculations are correct 6th cousins of Arthur, Falcon and Vernon. All being descendents of Thomas Clouston (1671-1754) of Orkney in the UK. Their grandfather having arrived in NZ in the mid 19th Century.
As all the Cloustons trace their ancestry to Orkney somewhere one day I'll find David, James and Warwick. Warwick is buried about 40 miles from me and Vernon served at RAF Feltwell (25 miles) with I think 487 Sqn RNZAF.
I beleive that in Auckland or Wellington Library is an Article written by Jim Heath entilted 'The Flying (or Fighting) Cloustons' There will be one or two other names, Sgt. Pilot Alfred Raymond Clouston (another 6th cousin) 53 Sqn RAF MIA over the channel April 1942 and Flying Officer Howard Clouston Wright RCAF lost over Northern Germany July 1944 who I have yet to find.
I have to say, not a bad collection for what is traditionally a Naval family!
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Post by steveh on Mar 24, 2011 18:39:24 GMT 12
Fascinating thanks Peter. I've long been interested in the exploits of Arthur, he being a local by origin. There were also several Cloustons at Nelson College when I was there but they were boadrers so not so local, Malborough from memory.
Steve.
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Post by Tony on Apr 7, 2011 20:58:36 GMT 12
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Post by jasonc16 on Aug 12, 2011 16:49:21 GMT 12
Hi,
I'm Jason Clouston and quite by accident have discovered this site. I am the younger son of Vern Clouston the youngest brother of Arthur and Falcon Clouston. Good to be on board.
Regards
Jason C
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 12, 2011 18:36:50 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Jason. Have you any involvement in avaition too?
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Post by oggie2620 on Aug 13, 2011 0:09:38 GMT 12
Hi Guys, I'm an interloper Youre not an interloper young man! ;D Welcome please stay aboard (well we do have naval antecedents in the RAF and I sail dinghies) and tell us more. Welcome Jason too and I have to echo Daves question? Or have you got naval connections instead? Dee  |
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Post by jackfc on Feb 2, 2012 12:11:46 GMT 12
Jason,
I found your post on here and was wondering if I can contact you.
I am also related to Aurthur however slightly removed. Aurthur is my great grandmothers cousin.
I am currently serving in the RNZAF as a CPL and currently posted to the Wellington region.
I can be emailed at 'jackfc.nz@gmail.com'
Regards,
Fraser
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